2026 Dodgers Minor League Preview: High-A Great Lakes

Next up in our preview series is High-A Great Lakes. The Loons. What is a Loon? “A loon is a loon, I suppose”, said a great philosopher once (it was Clayton Kershaw in 2007). Jair Fernandez is back for his third year helming the club, and this will be his 10th year coaching in the Dodgers’ organization.

The Loons had a successful 2025 campaign, finishing 72-58 but narrowly missing the playoffs after losing a key series late in the season. Led by the big three in the outfield of Kendall George, Zyhir Hope and Josue De Paula, Great Lakes scored the second most runs in the Midwest League.

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As far as those who could be there to start this year, Eduardo Quintero earned a promotion late last year from Rancho and held his own as a 19-year-old against older competition, batting .259/.384/.440 with ten extra base hits and 12 steals in 32 games.

A few familiar names could be flanking him, with Charles Davalan and Mike Sirota potentially starting the year in High-A. Davalan played in just eight games in his debut with Rancho last year before an injury ended his season. He’s back and healthy now, having appeared in seven Spring Training games as well as the Spring Breakout matchup with the White Sox. It’s unclear whether the Dodgers will slowplay Sirota by starting him off in High-A or aggressively assign him to Double-A Tulsa. However, due to the sheer abundance of outfielders in front of him, giving him a month or two in A-ball may help clear a path for him to join fellow top prospects in the upper minors.

Victor Rodrigues should be penciled in behind the plate. Rodrigues caught six innings of the Spring Breakout game, drawing a pair of walks and stinging a 105.9 mph double. At third base, you could see the best name in minor league baseball: Mairoshendrick Martinus.

In the rotation, expect to see a handful of former Quakes along with some fresh faces. 

After a dominant welcome to the world during Spring Breakout, Zach Root could make his way to Great Lakes and helm the pitching staff. The 22-year-old lefty overwhelmed hitters in the exhibition and should continue to do so in A-ball.

Zach Root ties the Spring Breakout single-game strikeout record in a DOMINANT outing ?

3 IP | 1 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 8 K

The @Dodgers' 2025 first-rounder racks up 9 whiffs and 12 called strikes: pic.twitter.com/wf9k2TdTNZ

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 22, 2026

Christian Zazueta, who started the Spring Breakout game but struggled under the triple-digit heat, would give the Loons another frontline starter. The 21-year-old posted a 2.41 ERA with the Quakes last year while striking out nearly 30% of hitters faced.

Another pair of former Rancho hurlers should make the jump. Aidan Foeller is a 24-year-old power righty who struck out 30.6% of hitters but also walked 16% in 2025. Sterling Patick is an undersized, young lefty who pitched five perfect innings in a May start last season before turning 20.

Here’s a look at a possible starting lineup:

CF Eduardo Quintero
LF Charles Davalan
RF Mike Sirota
1B Samuel Munoz
DH Jaron Elkins
C Victor Rodrigues
SS Jordan Thompson
3B Mairoshendrick Martinus
2B Nico Perez
P  Zach Root

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Our last preview will be for the Dodgers’ new Low-A affiliate, the Ontario Tower Buzzers, and it will come next week as the full slate of affiliates kick off their 2026 seasons. Be sure to check back for regular updates on the system’s hottest prospects!